Celtics can’t complete comeback, fall to Knicks in overtime 120-117 at home

With NBA trade rumors heating up, Boston is reportedly seeking an upgrade at the backup big man position. As such, the Celtics may have to make difficult decisions around some of the clubs role players. Guys like Luke Kornet or Sam Hauser come to mind.

Marcus Smart has been out with an ankle sprain and will miss a bit more time as he returns from injury. Unsurprisingly, being without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year has posed some challenges for the Celtics.

Robert Williams III may have had a decent game, including 1 block and 12 rebounds to go with 8 points. But outside of Williams’ usual defensive prowess, the Knicks were a little too comfortable on offense. New York point guard Jalen Brunson was particularly good for the visiting team, penetrating Boston’s Smart-less defense with ease. From there, the Knicks were usually the ones dictating the terms of engagement.

The good news for the Celtics is that Smart isn’t expected to miss much time. The bad news, however, appears to be that Boston’s perimeter defense really struggles when Smart is unavailable.